Selling contaminated fuel lands firm in court

Stadic Petroleum (Private Limited) was on Monday taken to court by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) for allegedly selling contaminated fuel.

The company, which was being represented by its security advisor who is also accused number two, Augustine Mahwana (39), is facing charges of selling contaminated diesel in contravention of section 4 (2) of the Petroleum (Fuel) Quality Regulations of 2013.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tendai Rusinahama who deferred the matter to August 24 for trial.

Allegations are that on June 28 the informant, Mr Hugh Mlauzi in the company of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officers, Air Force of Zimbabwe officers and National Economic Conduct Inspectorate officers on a joint operation while on duty, visited the firm to establish whether it was complying with the Petroleum Act.

The court heard that three diesel samples were taken from the company's fuel pump for tests at the Standards Association of Zimbabwe to establish whether the diesel complied with the standards set by the regulatory authority.

It is alleged that the tests revealed that the diesel was contaminated with some lighter petroleum product thereby failing to meet the standards.